The round of elections for Lebanese expatriates ended on Sunday in 33 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe and Africa, and the countdown began for the main round of parliamentary polls in Lebanon, which will be held on May 6. With some loopholes registered in some countries, there was a noticeable absence of Hezbollah representatives in polling stations, where the delegates of Amal Movement assumed their task, due the party’s classification as a terrorist organization, specifically in Europe and America. After a 66 percent turnout in the Arab countries on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday afternoon that the turnout in Australia reached 52 percent. In Britain, 371 Lebanese cast their votes out of 1,824 registered voters; in Belgium 498 out of 1,053; in Sweden 662 out of 1,910; in Germany 2,151 out of 8,355; in France 2,073 out of 8,644; Ivory Coast 775 out of 2,345; Nigeria 489 out of 1,263, Brazil 96 out of 2,112; Canada 239 out of 11,443, and the United States 244 out of 999 registered voters. Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil announced on Sunday morning the start of the second phase of the polls, noting that there were 70,000 registered voters distributed in 200 polling stations in 33 countries (excluding Arab countries). Around 82,900 Lebanese in 39 countries have registered to participate in the elections. According to experts, the number of people of Lebanese origins living abroad is estimated at 8-12 million, but most of them do not take administrative measures to issue their Lebanese identity cards. Interior Minister Nohad al-Mashnouk described the expat elections as a pilot experiment that was carried out with great success, announcing that the Interior Ministry has completed 96 percent of its preparations for the elections in Lebanon on Sunday.